Booking room only vs package question?

[amg35]

If I wanted to book my room for my trip, can I add a package to the reservation later?

And what's the difference in cost of deposit and payment due dates for room only vs. package booking?

Any advantages to either one?

Not going until Oct 2014, but just thinking ahead. I like to book early.

 

[Dis703]

The deposit for a package is $200 while the deposit for room only is the cost of the first nights stay. So depending on the resort that could be more or less than the package deposit. For a package the balance is due 45 days in advance, but with room only the balance is due upon check-in.

You also have more time to cancel without penalty for a room only. For a package if you cancel within that 45 days you lose the deposit or if you downgrade there is a fee, although I think only like $50? For a room only you have until 5 days before your trip to cancel without penalty.

We saved more doing room only and ended up buying APs to do two trips in just under a year. But I do like the more lenient cancellation policy as well.

I do believe you can add, but I think technically when you change from one to the other you cancel the first and book a new reservation. Or at least that is what happened when I went from a package to a room only.

 

[amg35]

Thanks!!

If I do room only, how do I buy park hoppers? And are they still added to the key? Or wristbands probably at that time? I liked having it all on one key.

Sorry, been a while since I booked a trip to Disney!

 

[minnie mum]

The PPs info is correct as far as I can see.

If you book a room only and later want to change to a vacation package, you would have to cancel the first reservation and make a new one. Further, they cannot transfer the deposit from one reservation to the other. It would be refunded and you would need to pay a new deposit at the time of booking.

If a special offer comes out at a later date, you can call and ask that it be applied to your current reservation. It may or may not require that you cancel and book a new vacation, depending on the type of offer and the type of reservation you have.

Re your second question about tickets: you have several choices. You could buy from an authorized seller, such as AAA or Undercover Tourist. They will sell you a 'paper' ticket of whatever configuration you need. When you check into the resort, you can have the ticket put onto your KTTW card (or magic band if they are in use). You could also just wait until you check in. Once you are checked in, just walk over to the concierge desk and buy your ticket. They will put it on your KTTW card for you. Or you could change your reservation to a vacation package and add the tickets when you make that change.

 

[amg35]

So when people book and they are waiting for pin codes and what not, they usually have to cancel and then rebook?

I'm assuming that normally works out? Meaning, they still get the same hotel/dates when adding a discount or package?

Sorry if these are dumb questions.

 

[oneprincessjo]

Thanks!!

If I do room only, how do I buy park hoppers? And are they still added to the key? Or wristbands probably at that time? I liked having it all on one key.

Sorry, been a while since I booked a trip to Disney!

If you do room only you can get the park tickets added to your room key upon check in. I have done it that way the past 2 trips, never had any problems doing it that way.

 

[smitch425]

So when people book and they are waiting for pin codes and what not, they usually have to cancel and then rebook?

I'm assuming that normally works out? Meaning, they still get the same hotel/dates when adding a discount or package?

Sorry if these are dumb questions.

We always book our package early an then apply a discount later. Just got the FD PIN added on Wednesday. Sometimes you will have to change room types or even hotels in order to add a discount. It just depends on what they have available under the promotion when you go to add it.

 

[amg35]

We always book our package early an then apply a discount later. Just got the FD PIN added on Wednesday. Sometimes you will have to change room types or even hotels in order to add a discount. It just depends on what they have available under the promotion when you go to add it.

Hmm, thanks. I would not be willing to change hotels. This is our big trip to WDW, we don't go very often at all and probably won't be back after this, so I want to stay where I want to stay!

Is there any benefit to a package that I'm not seeing? Especially if we are not purchasing a dining plan?

 

[DisneyFan2013]

If you do room only you can get the park tickets added to your room key upon check in. I have done it that way the past 2 trips, never had any problems doing it that way.

Does this mean that you wouldn't need to buy the park tickets until you check in? You can just buy them at the check in desk?

 

[oneprincessjo]

Does this mean that you wouldn't need to buy the park tickets until you check in? You can just buy them at the check in desk?

Yup

 

[DisneyFan2013]

Yup

Ok great! I'm considering booking just the room instead of a package for my November trip, but based on the Disney website, the difference between booking the Magic Your Way Package and the room only plus the tickets was only about $3. However, it still seems like it might be better to book just the room and then get the tickets at check in.

 

[OhThePain]

Ok great! I'm considering booking just the room instead of a package for my November trip, but based on the Disney website, the difference between booking the Magic Your Way Package and the room only plus the tickets was only about $3. However, it still seems like it might be better to book just the room and then get the tickets at check in.

If you get your tickets from a place like UT, usually the tickets have a small discount, usually just a few bucks less than what Disney sells them at. We have gotten our tickets from them fon our last trip and upcoming trip.

As for adding tickets to a KTTW card, I don't know how smoothly it goes now, but a while back there were a lot of people who had a lot of problems getting seperate park passes put on them. I don't know if it's better now or not. IMO, there is no difference in adding tickets to the KTTW or not. The paper tickets are perfectly durrable and since you have to carry around your KTTW, photo IDs, maybe any credit cards, is carrying around park tickets really the end of the world? Just my opinion.

 

[amg35]

If you get your tickets from a place like UT, usually the tickets have a small discount, usually just a few bucks less than what Disney sells them at. We have gotten our tickets from them fon our last trip and upcoming trip.

As for adding tickets to a KTTW card, I don't know how smoothly it goes now, but a while back there were a lot of people who had a lot of problems getting seperate park passes put on them. I don't know if it's better now or not. IMO, there is no difference in adding tickets to the KTTW or not. The paper tickets are perfectly durrable and since you have to carry around your KTTW, photo IDs, maybe any credit cards, is carrying around park tickets really the end of the world? Just my opinion.

I'm pretty sure no one said it was the end of the world, but it is the way I like it.

Anyone have any benefits to booking a package if you are not doing a dining plan? I always just assumed I would book a package, but now I'm thinking maybe not?

thanks!

 

[smitch425]

I'm pretty sure no one said it was the end of the world, but it is the way I like it.

Anyone have any benefits to booking a package if you are not doing a dining plan? I always just assumed I would book a package, but now I'm thinking maybe not?

thanks!

Packages come with certain perks, like 2 vouchers for free admission to Disney Quest, mini golf vouchers, Splitsville vouchers, etc.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Like the PP just said, there are a few perks that come with a Magic My Way package. DisneyQuest vouchers, Minature golf vouchers, assorted discounts for watersports, fishing, spa services, etc. If these are things that you might want to do you should price things out and see if a package is a better deal. If the price difference is negligble and you can deal with the deposit and cancellation policies I would book the package. Then if you want to do some of the other things you have the vouchers. If not no harm, no foul. Just my opinion.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I'm pretty sure no one said it was the end of the world, but it is the way I like it.

Anyone have any benefits to booking a package if you are not doing a dining plan? I always just assumed I would book a package, but now I'm thinking maybe not?

thanks!

You can book your room only and then turn it into a package no later than 5 days before check in without having a penalty. That is what we did. Then they gave us our vouchers when we checked in.

I could never see any reason to book a package early, unless you were getting a discount that required you to book a package, like the free dining discount would be, for example.

 

[snykymom]

Hmm, thanks. I would not be willing to change hotels. This is our big trip to WDW, we don't go very often at all and probably won't be back after this, so I want to stay where I want to stay!

Is there any benefit to a package that I'm not seeing? Especially if we are not purchasing a dining plan?

In my opinion, no. The vouchers aren't worth much to me. I prefer keeping my money in my pocket and paying on check in, and not have to worry if for some reason I have to cancel.

 

[oneprincessjo]

In my opinion, no. The vouchers aren't worth much to me. I prefer keeping my money in my pocket and paying on check in, and not have to worry if for some reason I have to cancel.

Agreed. I have NEVER used the vouchers.

 

[AliceandAriel]

If I wanted to book my room for my trip, can I add a package to the reservation later?

And what's the difference in cost of deposit and payment due dates for room only vs. package booking?

Any advantages to either one?

Not going until Oct 2014, but just thinking ahead. I like to book early.

Packages aren't really 'worth it' from what I've learned, unless you're getting a discount or offer like free dining with the package deal. Then, if that is the case, jump on it like you'd dive into a cold pool on a hot summer day.

When Disney puts together a package, they basically just conveniently offer everything to you at once so you don't have to go from one page to the next adding things. Think of a convenience store with the little toiletries and candy at the check out; you almost never need that $2 sanitizer, but the one time you look at it, you figure, "Heck, why not? Saves me the trouble of getting one later." No money is saved, but also no money is lost.

In the event they offer say, 10% off a package deal, that's worth checking into, but still not exceptional. It's when Disney offers the large incentives, like a free dining plan with room and tickets, that you really come out ahead. Then again, it all depends. If it's you and five others, offerings like that really do make a difference in the budget. If it's you and one other and you both don't eat much, an offering like that might not make a penny difference, if not leave you worse off when it comes to a package.

No matter what, shop around. What is offered through Disney can almost always be budgeted by hand manually and you'll save. Doing simple things like tickets through UT, possibly a room discount (like the one done through Travelocity right now) alone save you a considerable chunk of change. As for food, make a list of what you'd probably eat or budget what you think you're going to spend on food, and budget high because prices are clearly higher down there. Then put that on a Disney GC for convenience, and you're set except for plane tickets.

 

[DisneyFan2013]

I wasn't aware that discounted park tickets could be purchased via the Undercover Tourist website. I'm glad I read this thread!